France court punishes Fijian player for drunken brawl

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 14:20

NEWS: A French court sentenced Fijian player Waisea Nayacalevu to 120 hours of community service for an alcohol-fuelled punch-up outside a Paris nightclub.

Fellow Fiji wing Josaia Raisuqe stands accused of sexually assaulting a woman in an incident that sparked the fight, but his trial has been delayed until July 4 as the court awaits psychological evaluations.

The pair were arrested in the early hours of July 23 after a night out to celebrate Raisuqe's 23rd birthday.

According to Raisuqe's alleged victim, he grabbed her breasts violently, prompting a fight that left two of the woman's friends off work for three days each due to blows dealt by Waisea.

Raisuqe denies assaulting the 35-year-old.

Waisea, a rising star in Top 14 side Stade Francais, was ordered to pay the woman €400 (US$500) for psychological injury and a symbolic one euro to one of her friends.

Paris prosecutors have asked for a one-year suspended sentence for Raisuqe, who has been sacked by Stade Francais.